Gustav b



(No Model.)

G. E. SOHELLMAN.

HAT STRETOHER.

No. 389,014. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

WITNESSES M BY .X/(Mm A TTOR/i/EY.

INVENTOR,

GUSTAV E. SOHELLMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

HAT-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,014, dated September 4, 1888.

Application filed April 12, 1888. Serial No. 270,400.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gus'rnv E. SOHELLMAN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in HatStretchers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to hat-stretching rings or devices which are provided with independent auxiliary stretching attachments to make the hat conform to special or peculiar shapes of the head at certain parts thereof; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a hat-stretcher embodying my invention; and Fig. 2, a perspective view of one side of the stretcher in part, as seen from its interior.

A A are the two main stretching sections, constituting the usual divided oval band or ring, and adjustable toward or from each other in direction of the major axis of the oval figure by means of a right and left hand threaded screw, B, having an attached central hand-nut, b, and working at its opposite ends within boxes 0 O, secured to the interior of the end portions of the divided main stretching-sectionsAA, as usual in otherhat-stretchers. Straps c a, secured at their one end to the interior of the one section A on its opposite sides and passing through slotted projections (Z (Z upon the interior of the other section A on its opposite sides, serve to guide or regulate said two sections during their movement in or out by the screw B.

Arranged upon the exterior of the sides of the divided band or band-sections A A,which are made of metal, are four movable wings, D D, also made of metal, and of about the same depth or width as the main band. These wings, of which there are two to each section A, are coupled thereto by constructing them (No model.)

with hook-shaped and notched inner ends, 6, made to loosely clip and interlock with the inner stepped and notched ends, f, of the section A to which they are applied; or they may be otherwise coupled to the main bandsections A, to work in a hinge-like manner from the inner end portions of said sections A. Said wings D D are of a length to take in the sides and a portion of the outer ends of each main bandsection A, and are curved in direction of their length to conform thereto, so that when shut down upon the sections A A they will lie close thereto.

Pivoted to the inner face of each wing D, as at g, is a curved lever-catch, E, arranged to pass through a slot, lg, in the sections A, and serving, when the wing is closed down on its main section A, to lie up against the interior of said section and keep the wing closed, but which, when the wing is adjusted outward or thrown open, engages with any one of a series of notches or teeth, 1', forming a fixed rack on the side of either box G. Each wing D is thus made independently adjustable to any outward set required by the engagement of its lever-catch Ewith its rack i at different points in the length of the latter. This forms a very simple and efficient combination, either for using the hat-stretcher, when the wings D are closed, as an ordinary stretcher in direction of the major axis of the oval divided band A A, or, when either or any or all of the wings D are independently set outward, for shaping the hat, on suitably turning the screw 13, to conform to special abnormal configurations of the head or bumps or protuberances thereon, said wings being adjusted to any desired angle for the purpose, and thereby making the hat conform to any shape required.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'

1. In a hat-stretcher, the combination, with the oval-shaped divided main band formed by independent sections A A, and a screw applied thereto adapted to adjust said sections in or out, of the independently adjustable outer curved wings, D, shaped to conform to the exterior of said sections and in connection tions, the levercatches E, pivoted to said with the inner ends of said sections, substanwings, and the fixed racks or notched portions "[0 tially as specified. t, essentially as shown and described, and for 2. The combination, with the adjustable the purpose herein set forth. main band-sections A A, their adjusting- GUSTAV E. SOHELLMAN. screws B, and boxes G G, of the independ- WVitnesses: entIy-adjustable curved wings D, in hingelike A. GREGORY, connection with the inner ends of said sec- 0. SEDGWIQK. 

